Washington, Christodoulos Athanasatos

The next day of Greek-American relations and the general stance of the US on Greek national issues is a constant question every time the occupant of the White House changes.

In this case, his return Donald Trump to the leadership of the most powerful country in the world, after the mediation of the four-year Biden, brought mixed feelings in the ranks of the Greek-American organizations.

“He’s Erdogan’s friend” was an immediate association for many outsiders and non-observers, worried about possible favorable treatment towards Ankara.

“He was the president who appointed Pompeo as Secretary of State, who supported Greece, Cyprus and the Ecumenical Patriarchate” was the counterargument.

To present the facts honestly, the truth is always somewhere in the middle: The trajectory of Greek-American relations could hardly be diverted dramatically, especially
with the increasingly upgraded role of Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On the other hand, the US president and the State Department weigh their interventions very well, taking into account the international facts and, above all, what they themselves consider to be the country’s interest. A typical example is Joe Biden himself, a politician who maintains long-term relations with the diaspora from the time he served in Congress: No one expected that President Biden would have the same rhetoric as the candidate Senator Biden, who was particularly supported by Greek-American voters and entrepreneurs decades ago in Delaware.

The position is different, the agenda national and the role much more pivotal. On the other side, the circles of Ankara celebrating Trump’s victory probably did not feel very comfortable when they learned the choices for the nerve-wracking positions that are of immediate interest to them: Senator Marco Rubiowho will have the keys to the State Department, co-signed two bills very unfavorable to them in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Bob Menendez.

The MP Mike Walz has sided with the YPG Kurds and has been critical of Turkey for its stance against them. The proposed head of the National Intelligence Service, Tulsi Gabbardhas repeatedly criticized him Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Undoubtedly, Turkey would prefer to find some other faces to push its agenda in the US. “Remember that Donald Trump is unpredictable and in the end whatever he says will happen,” says HALC’s Executive Director, Eddie Zemenidiswho recalls that these executives were chosen mainly because they agree with Trump’s perception of more primary issues of American foreign policy and not so much with the moods of Ankara.

“During the previous Trump term, we were lucky that Mike Pompeo was in the State Department for the last two years. But let’s not forget that we didn’t have Pompeo for four years. If Rex Tillerson had stayed for the entire government term at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or if Michael Flynn had not left as National Security Advisor, maybe things would have been different,” Mr. Zemenidis.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that these positions of Trump may be a prelude to a different policy towards Ankara. As Eddy Zemenidis emphasizes, Turkey’s hostile attitude towards Israel combined with the hand of friendship to Hamas and Iran will never be treated positively by the US.

“Rubio and Walz have a very strong stance against Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Turkey, on the other hand, has taken part in all of these. Both will see Turkey with the same eye that Pompeo and the outgoing Government saw it, considering that it is no longer a stable ally, but neither a stable player.

More they consider it an independent country. In fact, if support for Hamas and Hezbollah continues, they will see it as a destabilizing force. Also, Turkey’s rivalry with Israel is stronger than ever, something that has happened in the last year and that will affect everyone. At the same time, there are no outstanding issues such as the accession of Finland and Sweden.

All the good that President Biden had done for Turkey was related to this issue, which no longer exists. At the same time, it is important to approve Tulsi Gabbard as head of the National Intelligence Service. Bad lies, the Intelligence Services had more close or regular contact with Turkey than the State Department and the Pentagon, as
she and Israel have the most active Secret Services in the region. Now they have to talk to Tulsi Gabbard first and that’s a tough part for her
Turkey”, added Mr. Zemenidis.

The Elon Musk factor

However, an unexpected but strong ally for Erdogan cannot be ruled out to be the Elon Muskwho has invested in Turkey and was present at the phone call between Donald Trump and the Turkish President in the wake of the election result.

“Elon Musk is a question mark. What worries me is how he has invested in Turkey with the satellites. This is something we cannot afford to do. When Ankara had asked him to exclude some journalists from X he had done so. Also, if Trump really shows a different attitude towards Europe as a whole, there will be a problem”, said Eddy Zemenidis.

Finally, Mr. Zemenidis expressed his optimism that Greek-American relations will have a continuation, in combination with Greece’s position in the SA. of the UN, while he did not fail to
also referred to the favorable situation for Cyprus.

“When you hear Trump expressing displeasure with other NATO members, he’s basically asking to do what Greece is doing, which is spending 2% of GDP, buying weapons and granting bases to the US. If he means what he says about NATO, the model is Greece. Cyprus has also demonstrated, with the humanitarian corridor, both for Gaza and Lebanon, that it can perform a role of stability, both humanitarian and defensive. Trump, who is also a builder, will emphasize the reconstruction of Gaza, and this corridor is important. Let’s also not forget the Cypriot presidency in the EU. the first half of 2026”, concluded Mr. Zemenidis, who estimated that Turkey’s behavior will not go unnoticed by everyone.

“When the war in Lebanon and Gaza ends, American Jews will not forget Turkey’s stance and want it to pay the price.”